The Supreme Court has set February 10 as the date for deciding two challenges filed by the All Progressives Congress, or APC, challenging the legitimacy of the Rivers State local government election last year.
The Supreme Court set the date for Tuesday after resolving all preliminary issues presented by the parties involved in the legal dispute.
After disposing of all applications in respect of the two appeals, a five-member panel of Justices of the Court led by Justice Musa Uwani Aba-Aji directed attorneys for the parties to file and exchange their respective briefs of reasons for and against before the adjournment date.
Last year, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an injunction prohibiting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from giving voter registration information to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the purpose of conducting the Council election.
The ruling was given by Justice Peter Lifu, who based his decision on the fact that the Rivers Local Government Electoral Commission failed to comply with the conditions precedent for such elections.
Justice Lifu further prohibited the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Director General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) from participating in or providing security for any local government election in Rivers State.
The Judge further forbade RSIEC and the State Attorney General from accepting or using any part of INEC’s voter registration.
Justice Lifu’s decision came in response to the APC’s suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024.
However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned and set aside Justice Lifu’s findings on the grounds that his court lacked authority to issue the orders he gave in favor of the APC.
Not satisfied with the Court of Appeal’s decision, the APC filed two separate appeals, SC/CV/1106/2024 and SC/CV/1106/2024, requesting that the Supreme Court reject the Court of Appeal’s judgment and reinstate the Federal High Court’s decision in its favor.
At Tuesday’s sessions, Joseph Bodunde Daudu and Ogwu James Onoja, both SANS, stood for the APC together with other lawyers, while Chris Uche SAN, supported by many counsel, represented the respondents in the matter.
